What is claimed is:
1. A process for printing an adhesive material on a paper web comprising:
providing a paper web;
printing an adhesive material on one side of the web in a pattern;
molding the paper web into a three dimensional state defined by a pattern of raised web portions; and
curing the adhesive material, the adhesive material being located on the web such that the cured adhesive material prevents the three-dimensional state of the web from relaxing into a substantially two dimensional state.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein the printing process is selected from the group consisting of flexographic printing, inkjet printing, and digital printing processes.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein said printing process is a flexographic printing process.
4. The process of claim 3, wherein the flexographic printing process includes guiding the web through a printing nip comprising interdigitating rolls.
5. The process of claim 4, wherein the web is microstrained in the printing nip.
6. The process of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material has a Brookfield viscosity at 20 rpm of about 20 poise or greater.
7. The process of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material is a hot melt adhesive material and has a viscosity of about 1000 centipoise or greater when it is printed on the paper web.
8. The process of claim 1, wherein the printing process exerts a peak pressure on the web of less than about 100 psi.
9. The process of claim 1, wherein the printing process exerts a peak pressure on the web of between about 0.2 and about 30 psi.
10. The process of claim 1, further comprising printing the adhesive material onto the other side of the web by use of a low pressure printing process.
11. The process of claim 1, further comprising printing an additive on the web by use of a low pressure printing process.
12. The process of claim 1, wherein the pattern of adhesive material is heterogeneous across the surface of the web.
13. The process of claim 1, wherein the web is molded into a three dimensional state before the web is printed with the adhesive material.
14. The process of claim 1, wherein the web is molded into a three dimensional state after the web is printed with the adhesive material.
15. The process of claim 1, wherein the web is molded into a three-dimensional state at substantially the same time that the web is printed with the adhesive material.
16. The process of claim 1, wherein the web comprises two or more plies.
17. The process of claim 16, wherein the plies are joined together by mechanical means.
18. The process of claim 16, wherein the plies are joined together by adhesive means.
19. The process of claim 16, wherein the plies are dissimilar.
20. The process of claim 1, wherein the web comprises an uncreped tissue web.
21. The process of claim 1, wherein the web comprises a creped tissue web.
22. A process for producing a paper web comprising:
forming a paper web comprising papermaking fibers;
molding the paper web into a three dimensional state defined by a pattern of raised web portions;
printing an adhesive material in a pattern on one side of the web by use of a low pressure printing process such that the printing process does not substantially densify the web; and
curing the adhesive material, the adhesive material being located on the web such that the cured adhesive material prevents the three-dimensional state of the web from relaxing into a substantially two dimensional state.
23. The process of claim 22, wherein the paper web is molded into the three dimensional state before the adhesive material is printed on the web.
24. The process of claim 22, wherein the paper web is molded into the three dimensional state after the adhesive material is printed on the web.
25. The process of claim 22, wherein the paper web is printed with the adhesive material and molded into the three-dimensional state at substantially the same time.
26. The process of claim 22, further comprising microstraining the web.
27. The process of claim 22, wherein the web is molded by being subjected to a molding pressure which does not cause significant deformation of the papermaking fibers.
28. The process of claim 22, wherein the web is molded into a three-dimensional state by pressing the web against a molding substrate.
29. The process of claim 28, wherein the web is pressed against a molding substrate by a pneumatic force.
30. The process of claim 29, wherein the differential pressure across the web during said molding is between about 1 and about 200 kPa.
31. The process of claim 29, wherein the differential pressure across the web during said molding is between about 5 and about 150 kPa.
32. The process of claim 22, wherein the printing process exerts a peak pressure on the web of less than about 100 psi.
33. The process of claim 22, wherein the printing process exerts a peak pressure on the web of between about 0.2 and about 30 psi.
34. The process of claim 22, wherein the pattern of adhesive material comprises at least a portion of the areas of major curvature of the raised web portions.
35. The process of claim 22, wherein the pattern of adhesive material comprises the base of the raised web portions.
36. The process of claim 22, wherein the printing process is selected from the group consisting of flexographic printing, inkjet printing, and digital printing processes.
37. The process of claim 22, further comprising printing an additive on the web in a second pattern by use of a low pressure printing process wherein the printing process does not substantially densify the web.
38. The process of claim 22, further comprising printing the adhesive material on the second side of the paper web by use of a low pressure printing process wherein the printing process does not substantially densify the web.
39. The process of claim 22, wherein the adhesive material is printed onto one side of the web in a pattern which is heterogeneous across the surface of the web.
40. A process for producing a paper web comprising:
forming a paper web comprising papermaking fibers;
molding the paper web into a three dimensional state defined by a pattern of raised web portions, wherein the web is molded by being subjected to a molding pressure which does not cause significant deformation of the papermaking fibers;
printing an adhesive material on one side of the web in a first pattern by use of a flexographic printing process which exerts a peak pressure on the web of less than about 100 psi; and
curing the adhesive material, the adhesive material being located on the web such that the cured adhesive material prevents the three-dimensional state of the web from relaxing into a substantially two dimensional state.
41. The process of claim 40, wherein the paper web is molded into the three dimensional state before the adhesive material is printed on the web.
42. The process of claim 40, wherein the paper web is molded into the three dimensional state after the adhesive material is printed on the web.
43. The process of claim 40, wherein the web is molded in the flexographic printing nip.
44. The process of claim 40, wherein the flexographic printing nip comprises interdigitating rolls.
45. The process of claim 44 further comprising microstraining the web.
46. The process of claim 40, wherein the web is molded into a three-dimensional state by pressing the web against a molding substrate.
47. The process of claim 46, wherein the web is pressed against a molding substrate by a pneumatic force.
48. The process of claim 47, wherein the differential pressure across the web during said molding is between about 1 and about 200 kPa.
49. The process of claim 47, wherein the differential pressure across the web during said molding is between about 5 and about 150 kPa.
50. The process of claim 40, wherein the flexographic printing process exerts a peak pressure on the web of between about 0.2 and about 30 psi.
51. The process of claim 40, wherein the first pattern of adhesive material comprises the areas of the web at the base of the raised web portions.
52. The process of claim 40, wherein the flexographic printing apparatus does not include an impression cylinder.
53. The process of claim 40, further comprising printing an additive on the web.
54. The process of claim 40, further comprising printing the adhesive material on the second side of the web.
55. The process of claim 54, wherein the adhesive material is printed onto both sides of the web at the same time.
56. The process of claim 54, wherein the adhesive material is printed on the second side of the web in a second flexographic printing process.
57. The process of claim 40, wherein the pattern of adhesive material is heterogeneous across the surface of the web.
58. The process of claim 40, wherein the web comprises two or more plies.
59. The process of claim 58, wherein the plies are dissimilar.
60. The process of claim 40, wherein the web comprises a wetlaid tissue web.
61. The process of claim 40, wherein the web comprises an airlaid web.
62. A process for producing a three-dimensional paper web comprising:
forming a paper web comprising papermaking fibers and having a first Surface Depth on a first side of the paper web;
printing an adhesive material in a first pattern on the first side of the web by use of a flexographic printing process; and
curing the adhesive material to form a printed paper web having a second Surface Depth on the first side of the web, wherein the second Surface Depth is at least 0.04 mm greater than the first Surface Depth.
63. The process of claim 62, further comprising deforming the paper web into a three dimensional state prior to curing the adhesive material, the three-dimensional state defined by a pattern of raised web portions, wherein after curing the adhesive material is effective in retaining the three-dimensional state.
64. The process of claim 63, wherein the raised web portions comprise an elevation of at least about 0.1 mm.
65. The process of claim 63, wherein the three-dimensional state during the step of deforming the paper web has a characteristic peak-to-valley elevation difference, at least 20% of which is retained when the paper web is wetted.
66. The process of claim 62, wherein the adhesive material is present on less than about 80% of the surface area of the paper web.
67. The process of claim 62, wherein curing the adhesive material comprises heating the adhesive material.
68. The process of claim 62, wherein curing the adhesive material comprises applying electromagnetic radiation to the adhesive material.
69. The process of claim 62, wherein curing the adhesive material comprises allowing the adhesive material to cool.
70. A process for producing a three-dimensional paper web comprising:
forming a three-dimensional paper web comprising papermaking fibers and having a first surface with repeating three-dimensional structures having a Surface Depth of at least about 0.2 mm;
printing an adhesive material in a first pattern on the first surface of the web by use of a flexographic printing process; and
curing the adhesive material, wherein the cured adhesive material rises above the surface of the paper web by at least about 0.03 mm.
71. The process of claim 70, wherein the Surface Depth of the paper web increases upon printing the adhesive material on the web.
72. The process of claim 70, wherein the cured adhesive material rises above the surface of the paper web by at least about 0.07 mm.
73. The process of claim 70, wherein the cured adhesive material rises above the surface of the paper web by at least about 0.1 mm.
74. The process of claim 70, said adhesive material having a viscosity of at least about 20 poise.
75. A paper product comprising:
a paper web comprising papermaking fibers;
raised web portions projecting out of the plane of said paper web so as to provide a three dimensional texture to the web; and
an adhesive material applied to a first side of the paper web in a pattern, the pattern of adhesive material comprising areas of major curvature of the raised web portions as measured in the z-direction of the paper web, the cured adhesive material preventing the raised web portions from relaxing into the plane of the paper web.
76. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the paper web has a basis weight of between about 10 and about 200 grams per square meter.
77. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the paper web has a basis weight of between about 30 and about 90 grams per square meter.
78. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the paper web has a bulk of greater than about 3 cubic centimetersgram.
79. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the paper web has a bulk of between about 3 and about 20 cubic centimetersgram.
80. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the paper web has a Frazier air permeability of greater than about 10 cubic feetminute.
81. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the paper web has a Surface Depth of about 0.2 mm or greater.
82. The paper product of claim 75 wherein the adhesive material covers between about 10% and 90% of the surface area of the paper web.
83. The paper product of claim 75 wherein the adhesive material is a hotmelt adhesive material having a Brookfield viscosity at 20 rpm of about 20 poise or greater.
84. The paper product of claim 75 wherein the adhesive material is a hotmelt adhesive material having a Brookfield viscosity at 20 rpm of about 50 poise or greater.
85. The paper product of claim 75 wherein the adhesive material is a hotmelt adhesive material having a Brookfield viscosity at 20 rpm of about 500 poise or greater.
86. The paper product of claim 75 wherein the adhesive material is a hotmelt adhesive material having a Brookfield viscosity at 20 rpm of about 1000 poise or greater.
87. The paper product of claim 75 wherein the adhesive material is applied to the web in a pattern which is heterogeneous across the surface of the web.
88. The paper product of claim 75 wherein the adhesive material is printed on the second side of the paper web in a second pattern.
89. The paper product of claim 75, wherein an additive is printed on a surface of the web.
90. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the paper web is a stratified paper web.
91. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the adhesive material is a latex.
92. The paper product of claim 75, wherein the pattern of adhesive material corresponds to the base areas of the raised web portions.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A stent comprising:
a plurality of first sinusoidal bands having strut members connected by curved segments, said first sinusoidal bands arranged generally in a circumferential direction, said curved segments occurring at a first frequency, at least one of said curved segments forming a keyhole-like structure with the adjacent strut members, and
a plurality of second sinusoidal bands having strut members connected by curved segments, said curved segments in said second loop containing sections occurring at a second frequency that is higher than said first frequency, said second sinusoidal bands consecutively alternating with said first sinusoidal bands along a longitudinal axis of the stent;
wherein at least one curved segment of a first sinusoidal band has a greater width than the width of the strut members of a second sinusoidal band; and
wherein said first and second sinusoidal bands connect directly at curved segments of said first and second sinusoidal bands to form a plurality of cells.
2. A stent according to claim 1, wherein at least one curved segment of a second sinusoidal band has a greater width than the width of the strut members of said second sinusoidal band.
3. A stent according to claim 1, wherein at least one curved segment of a second sinusoidal band forms a keyhole-like structure with the adjacent strut members of said second sinusoidal band.
4. A stent according to claim 1, wherein the first sinusoidal band is relatively adapted to enable radial support and the second sinusoidal band is relatively adapted to enable longitudinal flexibility.
5. A stent according to claim 1, wherein the strut members of the first sinusoidal bands are wider than the struts of the second sinusoidal bands.
6. A stent according to claim 1, wherein the curved segments of adjacent first sinusoidal bands are out of phase with each other.
7. A stent according to claim 1, wherein a strut member of a first sinusoidal band is shorter than another strut member of said first sinusoidal band.
8. A stent according to claim 1, wherein a strut of a second sinusoidal band is shorter than another strut member of said second sinusoidal band.
9. A stent according to claim 1, wherein each of said cells encompass about the same area.
10. A stent according to claim 1, wherein at least one cell consists essentially of two loops of a first sinusoidal band opening toward the inside of the cell and three loops of a second sinusoidal band opening toward the inside of the cell.
11. A stent according to claim 1, wherein at least one cell consists essentially of one loop of a first sinusoidal band opening toward the inside of the cell and three loops of a second sinusoidal band opening toward the inside of the cell.
12. A stent comprising:
a plurality of first sinusoidal bands having strut members connected by curved segments, said first sinusoidal bands arranged generally in a circumferential direction, said curved segments occurring at a first frequency, wherein at least one curved segment forms a keyhole-like structure with the adjacent strut members, and
a plurality of second sinusoidal bands having strut members connected by curved segments, said curved segments in said second loop containing sections occurring at a second frequency that is higher than said first frequency, said second sinusoidal bands consecutively alternating with said first sinusoidal bands along a longitudinal axis of the stent;
wherein at least one curved segment of a second sinusoidal band has a greater width than the width of the strut members of said first and second sinusoidal bands; and
wherein said first and second sinusoidal bands connect directly at curved segments of said first and second sinusoidal bands to form a plurality of cells.
13. A stent according to claim 12, wherein at least one curved segment of a second sinusoidal band forms a keyhole-like structure with the adjacent strut members of the second sinusoidal band.
14. A stent according to claim 12, wherein the first sinusoidal band is relatively adapted to enable radial support and the second sinusoidal band is relatively adapted to enable longitudinal flexibility.
15. A stent according to claim 12, wherein the strut members of the first sinusoidal bands are wider than the struts of the second sinusoidal bands.
16. A stent according to claim 12, wherein the curved segments of adjacent first sinusoidal bands are out of phase with each other.
17. A stent according to claim 12, wherein a strut member of a first sinusoidal band is shorter than another strut member of said first sinusoidal band.
18. A stent according to claim 12, wherein a strut of a second sinusoidal band is shorter than another strut member of said second sinusoidal band.
19. A stent according to claim 12, wherein each of said cells encompass about the same area.
20. A stent according to claim 12, wherein at least one cell consists essentially of two loops of a first sinusoidal band opening toward the inside of the cell and three loops of a second sinusoidal band opening toward the inside of the cell.
21. A stent according to claim 12, wherein at least one cell consists essentially of one loop of a first sinusoidal band opening toward the inside of the cell and three loops of a second sinusoidal band opening toward the inside of the cell.
22. A stent comprising:
a plurality of first loop containing sections having struts, said first loop containing sections arranged generally in a circumferential direction, said loops of said first loop containing sections occurring at a first frequency, wherein at least one loop of a first loop containing section forms a keyhole-like structure with the adjacent struts of said first loop containing section; and
a plurality of second loop containing sections having struts, loops in said second loop containing section occurring at a second frequency that is higher than said first frequency, said second loop containing sections consecutively alternating with said first loop containing sections along a longitudinal axis of the stent;
wherein said first and second loop containing sections each form a single, continuous, generally sinusoidal pattern around the circumference of the stent, and said first and second loop containing sections connect directly at loops of said first and second loop containing sections to form a plurality of cells.
23. A stent according to claim 22, wherein at least one loop of a first loop containing section has a greater width than the width of the struts of said first loop containing section.
24. A stent according to claim 22, wherein at least one loop of a second loop containing section forms a keyhole-like structure with the adjacent struts of said second loop containing section.
25. A stent according to claim 22, wherein at least one loop of a second loop containing section has a greater width than the width of the struts of said second loop containing section.
26. A stent comprising:
a plurality of first loop containing sections having struts, said first loop containing sections arranged generally in a circumferential direction, said loops of said first loop containing sections occurring at a first frequency; and
a plurality of second loop containing sections having struts, loops in said second loop containing section occurring at a second frequency that is higher than said first frequency, said second loop containing sections consecutively alternating with said first loop containing sections along a longitudinal axis of the stent, wherein at least one loop of a second loop containing section forms a keyhole-like structure with the adjacent struts of said second loop containing section;
wherein said first and second loop containing sections each form a single, continuous, generally sinusoidal pattern around the circumference of the stent, and said first and second loop containing sections connect directly at loops of said first and second loop containing sections to form a plurality of cells.
27. A uniformly flexible expandable stent comprising a plurality of enclosed flexible spaces, each of the plurality of enclosed flexible spaces consisting essentially of a plurality of triangular cells, each triangular cell including:
a) a first member having a first end and a second end;
b) a second member having a first end and a second end;
c) a third member having a first end and a second end;
d) a fourth member having a first end and a second end;
e) a first curved segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first curved member communicating with the second end of the first member and the second end of the first curved member communicating with the first end of the second member;
f) a second curved segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second curved member communicating with the second end of the second member and the second end of the second curved member communicating with the first end of the third member;
g) a third curved segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third curved member communicating with the second end of the third member and the second end of the third curved member communicating with the second end of the fourth member to form a keyhole-like structure, wherein the first, second and third curved segments have a width that is greater than the width of the first, second, third and fourth members;
h) a fifth member having a first end and a second end;
i) a sixth member having a first end and a second end;
j) a seventh member having a first end and a second end;
k) an eighth member having a first end and a second end;
l) a ninth member having a first end and a second end; and
m) a tenth member having a first end and a second end;
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth members are components of a first sinusoidal band and wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth members are components of a second sinusoidal band.
28. A stent according to claim 27, wherein each triangular cell further includes:
a) a fourth curved segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fourth curved member communicating with the second end of the fifth member and the second end of the first curved member communicating with the first end of the sixth member;
b) a fifth curved segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fifth curved member communicating with the second end of the sixth member and the second end of the fifth curved member communicating with the first end of the seventh member;
c) a sixth curved segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the sixth curved member communicating with the second end of the seventh member and the second end of the sixth curved member communicating with the first end of the eighth member;
d) a seventh curved segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the seventh curved member communicating with the second end of the eighth member and the second end of the seventh curved member communicating with the first end of the ninth member; and
e) an eighth curved segment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the eighth curved member communicating with the second end of the ninth member and the second end of the eighth curved member communicating with the first end of the tenth member, wherein the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth curved segments have a width that is greater than the width of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth members.